Device for cleaning receptacles



July 26, 1938. RANSQM, JR 2,124-,748

DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 25, 1955 Patented July 26, 1938 Z,IZ4,7 48

PATENT OFFICE 2.124,748 DEVICE FOR CLANING RECEPTACLES Albert Ransom, Jr., Chicago, Ill.

Application September 25, 1935, Serial No. 41,965

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning soiled receptacles, and more particularly concerns a device for scrubbing and cleansing simultaneously the interior and exterior surfaces of a tumbler or like receptacle and embodying an arrangement for equalizing wear upon the scrubbing elements.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle scrubbing and cleaning device having a plurality of scrubbing members such as brushes coacting to operate simultaneously upon the 'interior and exterior walls of the receptacle and characterized in that the vbrushes are interchangeable or selectively movable to change their relative positions in order to equaiize wear upon the bristles.

More specically stated, an object of the invention is to provide an improved means for mounting the scrubbing brushes in the base of the device in such a manner that they may always be easily removable therefrom and may also be easily adjusted to different positions about their own axes and secured in such adjusted. positions for the purpose of presenting different sections of the brush heads successively in a position where the bristles thereof receive the most severe wear.

In connection with the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel means for securing the brushes in different adjusted positions in the base and for visibly indicating the respective positions to facilitate making the adjustment.

A further object resides in the provision of a scrubbing and cleaning means of this type characterized by its inexpensive, simple and sturdy construction, by the ease with which it may be assembled or adjusted, and by its durability and long useful life.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the improved ferrule arrangement on the connecting end of the brush stem.

By way of illustration a practical form of the invention has been shown in the drawing wherein il! designates an elongated bae member supporting a plurality of scrubbing members i such as brushes ordinarily used for the purpose and adapted to receive therebetween the walls of a receptacle such as a tumbler |2. The scrubbing and cleansing action on the inner and outer surfaces of the tumbler walls is effected by manually pushing the inverted tumbler down over one of the brushes and then imparting an oscillatory motion to the tumbler about its own axis, preferably in the presence of a cleansing fluid contained in a receptacle such as a pan or sink upon the bottom of which the device as a whole rests.

The base IO may comprise an elongated narrow casting provided with a plurality of upwardly opening sockets |3 projecting from the top thereof to receive the lower ends of the brush spindles. In the present instance there are threesockets and three brushes arranged in alinement with their axes spaced such a distance apart that the bristles of the brushes at the adjacent sides thereof abut or intermesh with each other.

Near its opposite ends the base has pairs of laterally extending ears ll formed on opposite sides of the longitudinal median line through the base member, and carrying yieldable abutments i5 each detachably secured as by means of a bolt and nut IS, i'l. Herein the abutments are shown as including suction cups |8 adapted to maintain a fixed engagement with a supporting surface |9. Through this arrangement sliding of the device along the supporting surface will be avoided and it will be uniformly and firmly anchored even though slight irregularities occur in the surface.

Each brush comprises an elongated' bristle head 20 of suitable diameter and a wooden stem 22 extending substantially beyond one end of the head, and the ends of the stems 22 are adapted to be received in the base sockets l3. Looking means such as a thumb screw 23 may be carried by each socket for securing the inserted stem against withdrawal and for maintaining the brushes relatively immovable.

A device of this character is ordinarily used in the presence of a supply of cleansing fiuid and for this purpose may be substantially immersed in a body of soapy water 24 contained in a sink or pan of which the surface |9 may be the bottom. The tumbler |2 is then scrubbed and washed by inserting the same over one of the brushes so that its wall is forced between thc bristles of the adjoining brushes, and then imparting a rotary or oscillatory motion to the tumbler. A plurality of tumblers may be washed simultaneously by inserting them on alternate brushes.

After repeated use the overlapping portions of the bristle heads 20 will become worn, so that the efl'iciency of the device will be reduced. The invention therefore contemplates an arrangement whereby the brushes may be relatively moved to bring into juxtaposition unworn portions of the bristle heads. In the present instance this end is attained by releasing the respective thumb screws 23 and partially rotating the brush stems 22 in the sockets i3 whereafter the thumb screws may again be tightened to hold the brushes against relative movement. g

However, difficulty may be experlenced in rotating the wooden stems because of the swelling thereof by the washing water. Means is therefore provided for maintaining each stem against swelling and pcrmitting free' movement thereof relative to its socket at any time. Herein a metallic ferrule of an exterior diameter to fit snugly but freely slidably in the socket |3, is applied to the end of the brush stem.

By thus encasing the end of the stem it is not only maintained against swelling and binding in the socket but it is also prevented from softening and will thus never become loose due to damage by the tightened thumb screw or the metallic socket.

A further improvement resides in the provision of means for locating the ferrules with respect to the thumb screws and for looking the ferrules immovably on the stems. In one practical manner of reaching these results, the ferrule 25 may have formed therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced thumb screw recesses or sockets 21 of such diametei' and depth that when the thumb screw 23 is tightened therein the ferrule will be maintained positively in the socket against either Withdrawal or rotary movement. As shown` the screw sockets 21 may be in the form of beads pressed inwardly into the surface of the stem so as to aid in maintaining the ferrule immovable upon the stem, but any other desirable expedient may be employed to provide the necessary depressions, such, for example, as iox'ming suitable apertures in the ferrule before aiiixing the same upon the stem. In any event, the screw sockets are pi'eferably of a number eorrcsponding to the positions to which the ferrule will be rotated in the stem socket |3 as the brush of which it forms a part becomes worn.

For the purpose of helping to locate the screw Sockets with respect to the thumb screw and for additionally securing the ferrule upon the brush stem, narrow, longitudinal grooves or beads 28 may he formcd circumferentially of the ferrule corresponding to the screw sockets. In this connection the ferrule may be of such length that a substantial portion 29 thereof extends beyond the rim of the stem socket |3, and the beads 28 are formed of such length that their ends are exposed after the ferrule is fully within the stem socket. Thus, the exact location of each of the screw sockets will be readily visible so that the brush may be quickly adjusted to proper position Without experimentation when looking the brush in place. If desired, the beads 28 may be identified by consecutive numerals (Figs. 1 and 4) corresponding to the various operative positions of the brush, herein shown as four in number. A glance at the number of the position of the brush will advise the user Without experimentation as to its probable remaining length of usefulness, or whether a new brush is needed.

` From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved scrubbing and cleansing device for tumblers and the like which is characterized by its simple and eflcient unitary arrangement of parts, its inexpensive construction, and the improved manner in which the relative positions of the brushes may be shifted readily to equalize wear thereon and thereby greatly prolong the life of the unit. Moreover, the organization which attains these ana-;348

improved results also incorporates novel means for ascertaining and maintaining the proper relative adiusted positlons of the brushes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for cleaning receptacles comprising, in combination, an elongated base member including a. plurality of alined upwardly opening sockets disposed in spaced relation along the median line of the upper side thereof, two of said sockets being located near the extreme opposite ends of said base, a. 'plurality of brushes having stems fitted in said sockets and including peripherally interlaced bristle heads so as positively to contact the interior and exterior walls of a receptacle inserted over one of said brushes, oppositely extending pairs of ears formed at said opposite ends of said base near said respective two sockets, and spaced yiedable suction cups secured to the under side of said ears for detachably securing the device to a supporting surface and for holding the device against tipping or displacement when a receptacle is forced in any usual direction upon said brushes but permitting slight yielding movement of the device.

2. A device for Cleaning receptacles having, in combination, a base provided with a plurality of open-end sockets, a plurality of brushes having their heads abutting and having absorbent stems seated in said sockets, a non-absorbent and wearresistant annular ferrule snugly surrounding thel end portion of each stem within its socket, said ferrules serving to prevent swelling or mutilation of said stems and to assure free rotatablc and axial sliding fit of the stems in their sockets, a series of inward projections formed in each ferrule and interlocking with said stem, said projections providing outwardly opening recesses spaced circumferentially about the stem to define a plurality of operative positions of the brush heads relative to each other, and a finger-controlled looking device carried by each socket and having a portion projecting into the interior of the socketl with its end engaging in 'any selected one of said recesses to hold the brush stem against both rotational and axial movement.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which each ferrule is provided with indicating means so located as to be exposed to view when the ferrule is fully seated in its socket, so as to enable the exact rotary position of the brush relative to said looking device to be ascertained at a glance for assuring proper locking relationship of said looking device and its cooperating recess, and for determining the proper rotational position of the brush relative to the other brushes.

4. A device for Cleaning receptacles having, in combination, a base provided with a plurality of open-end sockets, a plurality of brushes having their heads abutting and having absorbent stems seated in said sockets, a non-absorbent and wearresistant annular ferrule snugly surrounding and fixed to the end portion of each stem and fitting in its socket to permit the stem to be rotated in or withdrawn from the socket, each ferrule having formed therein a series of circumferentially-- spaced recesses to receive a looking device, and a movable locking device carried by each socket and arranged to engage in said recesses selectively when the brush is manually rotated, said device acting to restrain the brush against accidental rotation in or withdrawal from its socket.

ALBERT RANSOM, JR. 

